An NFL draft unfolds over three days – or an eternity if you’re a potential draftee like nose tackle Kwame Geathers, who left the University of Georgia early in anticipation of being picked but never was.

“It motivated me not being drafted,” Geathers said on Tuesday from Chargers Park. “I felt like I did everything right at the University of Georgia. And I felt like I was ready to leave. Not getting drafted, it was bad. But I looked at it as motivation.”

Seeing opportunity with the Chargers, who had lost two veterans to free agency, Geathers chose San Diego over the Jets and Dolphins soon after the draft.

Now, after barging into the backfield and making plays against the Bears and Cardinals, it seems the 340-pounder could make the 53-man roster as the first backup to starter Cam Thomas and also as a special teams performer.

Geathers, who has Thursday's exhibition game in front of him, smiled when asked if he allows himself to think he’ll be on the team.

“Nah, not yet,” he said of a job that pays $405,000. “Not until the final cut, and we’ll go from there.”

His genes are on his side. So many Geathers have earned NFL paychecks as defensive linemen that the running joke among Chargers veterans, linebacker Jarret Johnson said, is that Kwame won’t get a seat at the Thanksgiving table unless he's on an NFL roster.

Oldest brother Robert Geathers Jr., 30, is entering his 10th season with the Bengals. Another brother, 25-year-old Clifton Geathers, now with the Eagles, played for the Cowboys in 2011 and the Colts last year.

“I’m the baby boy,” said 22-year-old Kwame.

Their uncle Jumpy Geathers, 53, played 13 seasons in the NFL and amassed 62 sacks as an end and tackle for four teams.

Arriving at Chargers Park in May and returning in late July, Geathers carried with him reminders from his brothers and uncle to keep pushing and not let a bad day turn into two bad days

But the learning had just begun.

Geathers said line coach Don Johnson worked with him to sustain his attacks at a lower angle, and Chargers linemen and linebackers gave him other pointers.

Thomas, the starter, was among the mentors despite being a competitor and an University of North Carolina alum who boos SEC teams. Much as veteran nose tackles Jamal Williams, Antonio Garay and Aubrayo Franklin guided him, Thomas counseled the rookie.

“San Diego is known for having great nose tackles, and I want to be in that bunch,” Thomas said, although the last Pro Bowl selection, from Williams, came in 2007. "At the same time, you want to help. Veterans helped me, and I want to do the same thing for him.”

A nose tackle has one of the sport’s most punishing tasks, often clashing with two linemen at the same time.

But Chargers ends in the 3-4 defense also can bear the brunt of double teams. If Geathers can spell him, Thomas is more apt to see spot duty at end and thus give a breather to Corey Liuget and Kendall Reyes.

The defensive line's depth could be tested sooner than later. The Texans will bring a mature running game to San Diego for the opener Sept. 9. Thomas, 24, is entering his first year as the clear starter. Second-string end Damik Scafe was in a walking boot Tuesday and Liuget, while expected to be ready for Opening Night, hasn’t practiced since leaving the first series of the Aug. 15th game with a shoulder injury.

Perhaps because Geathers is angular for the position at 6-foot-5 (as measured at the NFL combine) and not massive through the lower body like some nose tackles, the Chargers seem not to be asking him to defend both gaps between the guard and center.

He has won against other teams' backups with quickness, and sometimes by using his long arms.

Chargers backup center David Molk said “that if a tall guy can learn to use leverage,” he’ll beat just about any blocker he encounters.

To that end, it’s encouraging that Geathers has taken to coaching.

“He came in and did a good job and did a nice job of buying what Don was teaching him, and he’s made some plays for us,” McCoy said. “He’s a physical presence, which you need in this league.”